Officials Unveil Plan to Launch Mobile Charging Stations

AT&T and Bloomberg administration join to launch 25 mobile charging stations across the five boroughs.

Charging a cell phone or replenishing the battery of an iPad will soon become easier in New York City — that is the hope, anyway.

AT&T, one of the largest cell phone providers in the country, has teamed up with city officials to launch AT&T Street Charge — an initiative that would allow New Yorkers to charge their cell phones or tablets via solar-powered mobile charging stations. The program will include 25 stations across all five boroughs and will be free to use, according to New York City's Parks Department. Some stations are available to use now and others will be fully implemented in the near future.

The phone provider says the pilot initiative, which will last only through the summer, was inspired by the need for connectivity seen after the destruction of Superstorm Sandy. Amid the continued recovery, AT&T established temporary charging stations so that New Yorkers who had lost power could refuel their technology and connect with loved ones.

"After Hurricane Sandy, I asked out private sector partners to step up and help improve the resiliency of New York City," Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement. "AT&T is doing just that, and we're grateful for their efforts."

But this is not the first instance AT&T has partnered with New York City. WiFi has been available in numerous locations across city parks for the past two years and dozens of subway platforms were delivered cell phone service last year to the credit of AT&T.

"Solar mobile charging is a natural next step in AT&T's efforts to provide innovative services for New Yorkers that empower them to lead more sustainable lives," said Marissa Shorenstein, the New York State president of AT&T, in a statement.